Virtual World, Virtual Reference at the Second Life Library Reference Desk Lorin Fisher SL: Juana Manuel Information Literacy Coordinator Alkek Library Texas State University-San Marcos [email_address]

What is Second Life? 3-D virtual world, created by Linden Labs in 2003 462,262 residents logged in during past 7 days Objects and environments in-world are created by residents Economy with game currency Linden dollar exchangeable for US dollars Education, business, and other organizations represented in-world Separate Teen Grid for ages 13-17

3-D virtual world, created by Linden Labs in 2003

462,262 residents logged in during past 7 days

Objects and environments in-world are created by residents

Economy with game currency Linden dollar exchangeable for US dollars

Education, business, and other organizations represented in-world

Separate Teen Grid for ages 13-17

A Quick Peek

Second Life Library and the Info Archipelago Started in 2006, by Alliance Library System 40 Islands housing other libraries and associations Info International language areas Subject and branch Libraries Separate library services on Teen Grid Online resource collections Reference Desk staffed by volunteers Events, classes, and courses offered

Started in 2006, by Alliance Library System

40 Islands housing other libraries and associations

Info International language areas

Subject and branch Libraries

Separate library services on Teen Grid

Online resource collections

Reference Desk staffed by volunteers

Events, classes, and courses offered

Reference Service in a Virtual World

Like Apples and Oranges 7662 patrons, 4688 SL questions, 576 RL questions (2007 Statistics) Average shift 2 hours per week International patrons and staff Communication via voice chat, text chat, IM Heavy multi-tasking Game specific information delivery tools Good knowledge of game interface Familiarity with traditional reference tools

7662 patrons, 4688 SL questions, 576 RL questions (2007 Statistics)

Average shift 2 hours per week

International patrons and staff

Communication via voice chat, text chat, IM

Heavy multi-tasking

Game specific information delivery tools

Good knowledge of game interface

Familiarity with traditional reference tools

Second Librarian Life Group tags Griefers Babbler (translation program) Group IM Interest area sub-groups Reference meetings & training Info Island web pages SL Librarian listserv Networking and librarian social events

Group tags

Griefers

Babbler (translation program)

Group IM

Interest area sub-groups

Reference meetings & training

Info Island web pages

SL Librarian listserv

Networking and librarian social events

References Second Life Library 2.0 Staff Worksite . 17 Apr 2008 <http://infoisland.org/drupal/>. 2006-2007 ALS Annual Report . Alliance Library System. 17 Apr 2008 <http://www.alliancelibrarysystem.com/annualreport07/message.pdf>. Dejavu, Hypatia. “SLLVR Statistics.” 2007. 14 Apr 2008. “ Second Life Economic Statistics.” Second Life . 17 Apr 2008 <http://secondlife.com/whatis/economy_stats.php>. Second Life Library . 17 Apr 2008 <http://infoisland.org/>. Second Life: Official site of the 3D online virtual world . 17 Apr 2008 <http://secondlife.com/>.

Second Life Library 2.0 Staff Worksite . 17 Apr 2008 <http://infoisland.org/drupal/>.

2006-2007 ALS Annual Report . Alliance Library System. 17 Apr 2008 <http://www.alliancelibrarysystem.com/annualreport07/message.pdf>.

Dejavu, Hypatia. “SLLVR Statistics.” 2007. 14 Apr 2008.

“ Second Life Economic Statistics.” Second Life . 17 Apr 2008 <http://secondlife.com/whatis/economy_stats.php>.

Second Life Library . 17 Apr 2008 <http://infoisland.org/>.

Second Life: Official site of the 3D online virtual world . 17 Apr 2008 <http://secondlife.com/>.

Selected Websites Official Second Life website- - http://www.secondlife.com/ Teen Second Life (for Ages 13-17) http://teen.secondlife.com/ Second Life Library website- - http://infoisland.org/ Eye4You Alliance Blog -- http://eye4youalliance.youthtech.info/ Info Archipelago Directory of Libraries and Organizations -- http://infoisland.org/directory.php Second Life Education Wiki http://www.simteach.com/wiki/index.php?title=Second_Life_Education_Wiki Institutions and Organizations in Second Life http://www.simteach.com/wiki/index.php?title=Institutions_and_Organizations_in_SL New Media Consortium Campus Observer http://sl.nmc.org/

Official Second Life website- - http://www.secondlife.com/

Teen Second Life (for Ages 13-17) http://teen.secondlife.com/

Second Life Library website- - http://infoisland.org/

Eye4You Alliance Blog -- http://eye4youalliance.youthtech.info/

Info Archipelago Directory of Libraries and Organizations -- http://infoisland.org/directory.php

Second Life Education Wiki http://www.simteach.com/wiki/index.php?title=Second_Life_Education_Wiki

Institutions and Organizations in Second Life http://www.simteach.com/wiki/index.php?title=Institutions_and_Organizations_in_SL

New Media Consortium Campus Observer http://sl.nmc.org/

Selected SLURLs Info International Reference Desk http://slurl.com/secondlife/Info%20Island%20International/128/128/0 Info Island http://slurl.com/secondlife/Info%20Island/128/128/33 Cybrary City http://slurl.com/secondlife/Cybrary%20City/128/128/0 ALA Island http://slurl.com/secondlife/ALA%20Island/128/128/0 Caledon http://slurl.com/secondlife/Caledon%20VictoriaCity/134/123/24 San Jose State University SLIS http://slurl.com/secondlife/SJSU%20SLIS/128/128/0 Cleveland Public Library http://slurl.com/secondlife/Cleveland%20Public%20Library/128/128/0 Bobcat Village http://slurl.com/secondlife/Bobcat%20Village/128/128/0 Silent http://slurl.com/secondlife/Silent/128/128/0 International Spaceflight Museum http://slurl.com/secondlife/Spaceport%20Alpha/128/128/0

Info International Reference Desk http://slurl.com/secondlife/Info%20Island%20International/128/128/0

Info Island http://slurl.com/secondlife/Info%20Island/128/128/33

Cybrary City http://slurl.com/secondlife/Cybrary%20City/128/128/0

ALA Island http://slurl.com/secondlife/ALA%20Island/128/128/0

Caledon http://slurl.com/secondlife/Caledon%20VictoriaCity/134/123/24

San Jose State University SLIS http://slurl.com/secondlife/SJSU%20SLIS/128/128/0

Cleveland Public Library http://slurl.com/secondlife/Cleveland%20Public%20Library/128/128/0

Bobcat Village http://slurl.com/secondlife/Bobcat%20Village/128/128/0

Silent http://slurl.com/secondlife/Silent/128/128/0

International Spaceflight Museum http://slurl.com/secondlife/Spaceport%20Alpha/128/128/0

Thank you!